Biography:
Nikki Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on June 7, 1943 with the original name of Yolande Cornelia Giovanni, Jr.; she grew up in an african american community called Lincoln Heights in Cincinnati, Ohio. Giovanni attended Fisk University, the University of Pennslyvania, and Columbia University! She wrote her first book Black Feeling Black Talk in 1968 and it was a great hit; she used the money rom her first book to publish her next book, Black Judgement, this sparked a passion to write in her and she has written over 30 books including works for children and adults! Some of her major works include Cotton Candy on a Raiany Day (1978), Love Poems (1997), and Knoxville, Tennessee (1994). Giovanni explains racial controversies of all races of Americans. Giovanni has recieved may awards like "Woman of the Year" and 19 honorary doctrates.
I Wrote A Good Omelet
I wrote a good omelet...and ate
a hot poem... after loving you
Buttoned my car...and drove my
coat home...in the rain...
after loving you
I goed on red...and stopped on
green...floating somewhere in between...
being here and being there...
after loving you
I rolled my bed...turned down
my hair...slightly
confused but...I don't care...
Laid out my teeth...and gargled my
gown...then I stood
...and laid me down...
To sleep...
after loving you
Written by Nikki Giovanni
My Personal Reaction to the Poem:I liked the poem because it is very sweet and it talks about how when in love you're sort of under that person's spell and you can't think properly.
Historical Context:There is no historical context.
Theme:The theme is that when you are in love you will forget the every day things and focus on the one you love and you cannot think properly.
You Came, Too
I came to the crowd seeking friends
I came to the crowd seeking love
I came to the crowd for understanding
I found you
I came to the crowd to weep
I came to the crowd to laugh
You dried my tears
You shared my happiness
I went from the crowd seeking you
I went from the crowd seeking me
I went from the crowd forever
You came, too
Written by Nikki Giovanni
My Personal Reaction to the Poem:I find the poem very sweet. I think the poem is about how often times love will find you when you're least expecting it and that that one that you love will always be there for you weither you think they are or not.
Poetic Devices Used:Repetition
Rhyme Scheme:ABC D EF GH IJK L
Historical Context:There is no historical context involved in this poem.
Theme:You cannot expect to find love; love has to find you.
And I Have You
Rain has drops
Sun has shine
Moon has beams
That make you mine
Rivers have banks
Sands for shores
Hearts have heartbeats
That make me yours
Needles have eyes
Though pins may prick
Elmer has glue
To make things stick
Winter has Spring
Stockings feet
Pepper has mint
To make it sweet
Teachers have lessons
Soup du jour
Lawyers sue bad folks
Doctors cure
All and all
This much is true
You have me
And I have you
Written by Nikki Giovanni
My Personal Reaction to the Poem:I liked this poem because it's about how no matter what you'll still be mine, and its also comparing the relationship to the unbreakable relations of mother nature as to sort of say that nothiing will every be strong enough to tear us apart.
Poetic Devices Used:Personification, metaphor, imagery & symbolism Rhyme Scheme:ABCB DEFE GHIH JKLK MNON PQRQ Historical Context:There is no historical context in this poem.
Theme:I think that the theme is sort of saying that the relationship is impecably strong that no force could ever pull it apart also that their relationship is so natural that it was never even thought of to not be.
Nikki Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on June 7, 1943 with the original name of Yolande Cornelia Giovanni, Jr.; she grew up in an african american community called Lincoln Heights in Cincinnati, Ohio. Giovanni attended Fisk University, the University of Pennslyvania, and Columbia University! She wrote her first book Black Feeling Black Talk in 1968 and it was a great hit; she used the money rom her first book to publish her next book, Black Judgement, this sparked a passion to write in her and she has written over 30 books including works for children and adults! Some of her major works include Cotton Candy on a Raiany Day (1978), Love Poems (1997), and Knoxville, Tennessee (1994). Giovanni explains racial controversies of all races of Americans. Giovanni has recieved may awards like "Woman of the Year" and 19 honorary doctrates.
I Wrote A Good Omelet
I wrote a good omelet...and ate
a hot poem... after loving you
Buttoned my car...and drove my
coat home...in the rain...
after loving you
I goed on red...and stopped on
green...floating somewhere in between...
being here and being there...
after loving you
I rolled my bed...turned down
my hair...slightly
confused but...I don't care...
Laid out my teeth...and gargled my
gown...then I stood
...and laid me down...
To sleep...
after loving you
Written by Nikki GiovanniPoetic Devices Used:Hyperbole, imagery, & symbolism
Rhyme Scheme:AB CDE FGHI JKL MNO PQ
Historical Context:There is no historical context.
Theme:The theme is that when you are in love you will forget the every day things and focus on the one you love and you cannot think properly.
You Came, Too
I came to the crowd seeking friends
I came to the crowd seeking love
I came to the crowd for understanding
I found you
I came to the crowd to weep
I came to the crowd to laugh
You dried my tears
You shared my happiness
I went from the crowd seeking you
I went from the crowd seeking me
I went from the crowd forever
You came, too
Written by Nikki GiovanniPoetic Devices Used:Repetition
Rhyme Scheme:ABC D EF GH IJK L
Historical Context:There is no historical context involved in this poem.
Theme:You cannot expect to find love; love has to find you.
And I Have You
Rain has drops
Sun has shine
Moon has beams
That make you mine
Rivers have banks
Sands for shores
Hearts have heartbeats
That make me yours
Needles have eyes
Though pins may prick
Elmer has glue
To make things stick
Winter has Spring
Stockings feet
Pepper has mint
To make it sweet
Teachers have lessons
Soup du jour
Lawyers sue bad folks
Doctors cure
All and all
This much is true
You have me
And I have you
Written by Nikki GiovanniPoetic Devices Used:Personification, metaphor, imagery & symbolism
Rhyme Scheme:ABCB DEFE GHIH JKLK MNON PQRQ
Historical Context:There is no historical context in this poem.
Theme:I think that the theme is sort of saying that the relationship is impecably strong that no force could ever pull it apart also that their relationship is so natural that it was never even thought of to not be.
FAMU. 3-1-10 http://www.famu.edu/headlines/UserFiles/Image/NikkiGiovanni.jpg.
Giovanni , Nikki. Black Feeling, Black Talk/Black Judgement. HarperCollins Publishers, 1971.
Giovanni , Nikki. The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni: 1968-1998 . HarperCollins Publishers, 2007.
"Nikki Giovanni". afropoets.net. 3-1-10 http://www.afropoets.net/nikkigiovanni.html.
"The Nikki Giovanni Page". The San Antonio College LitWeb. 3-1-10 http://www.accd.edu/sac/english/bailey/giovanni.htm.